388 NATURE SKETCHES IN TEMPERATE AMERICA 



Katydids ix their Night Resorts 



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ITII the litrht of iiiv lantern, I frcfiuentlv 

 V . . . ' 



found katydids in the taller lierl)age along 



roadsides and fence rows. No one can 

 imagine, without personal experience, the beauty of the view 

 presented as the lantern li^ht fell upon the i)rofusion of 

 green herbage. Here and there, for instance, the view may l)e 

 enlivened by either the little slender green grasshoppers, 

 Xiphidiuin, on the very sunnnit of a head of timothy, or the 

 presence of a cone-head, or the exquisite oblong-winged katydid 

 perched on the goldenrod. After a little attention is given to 

 the notes of the males, the various si)ecies can be distinguished, 

 and then one may trace them to each of the musicians. One 

 night, near the last of July. I started upon a katydid excur- 

 sion along a narrow lane. A farmer had mowed down the 

 plants along the line of the path, but leaving at the fence row, 

 on one side only, a margin of native wild plants. I cautiously 

 lighted my way and had proceeded but a few minutes, when I 

 heard the high shrilling of a cone-head. In a few moments 

 more he was in the full glare of my lantern. Though I had 

 made some commotion in getting to the spot, he continued 



